NHL: How are new faces doing with their new teams?

James van Riemsdyk

New team: Philadelphia Flyers
Acquired: Signed for 5 years, $35 million
Clarkson regret-o-meter: 2.5 David Clarksons

One of the better scorers on the free agent market, James van Riemsdyk chose to return to a familiar team and city during free agency, choosing the Flyers over other options to play for the next 5 seasons. He’s currently in the prime of his career, just 29 years old, and has a game that’s translatable to success later in his career once his speed goes.

Though, during the second game of the season, he suffered a lower-body injury (no word if Gritty is to blame yet, investigations ongoing), and hasn’t skated in the month since. While he doesn’t have such a significant injury history, it’s still missing time right when his brand new contract starts, and that may worry Flyer fans. He’ll recover soon, we just have to wait and see how good he’ll be once he returns.

Ryan O’Reilly

New team: St. Louis Blues
Acquired: Trade with Buffalo
Clarkson regret-o-meter: 1 David Clarkson

The Blues sent a nice package to the Sabres for O’Reilly, and while he started off slowly, having just 4 assists in his first 6 games, he’s picked up the scoring pace since then, and is currently on a 6 game point streak. O’Reilly is just 27, and is under contract for this season and the four following, so the price for a player locked up for his prime was obviously high, but so far, you have to think that this deal was worth the price, especially if you chalk up those first few games as an adjustment period. The Blues have a stud who can score, set up, and play physically, and that’s perfect for the style of hockey the Blues like to play. There are no regrets about this trade.